LET’S GET IT ON!
Fireworks expected at 48th Gibson McCook Relays, says organiser
DENZIL Wilks, a member of the organising committee for this year’s Gibson McCook Relays, has confirmed that all systems are in place for a successful staging of the 48th edition of the event today.
Wilks said he is anticipating some thrilling action on the track as over 2,700 athletes — representing schools, clubs and institutions — are expected to compete.
The championships is to kick off at 9:30 am and will feature 40 events, including 31 relay races — 15 of which are championship races — and nine individual events. The meet is to conclude at 9:00 pm, with the finals set to begin at 4:00 pm.
“Everything is in place, because this is the 48th staging. But in terms of time, we have been doing this now for 51 years as there are a couple of years when we didn’t have a staging,” Wilks explained.
“A number of persons who sit on the organising committee, as well as technical officials, have been doing this repeatedly year after year, always seeking to improve, so we are pretty much in line and all systems go for Saturday.”
Wilks expressed confidence in the athletes’ readiness, noting their strong performances this season.
“We have 15 championship relay events and we have two 60-metre events — one male and one female — with some interesting prizes and incentives so we expect persons to be at their best,” he said.
“Where we are at in the season, most of our athletes have already done their preliminary runs so they should be rounding into good form. We are really expecting it to be a cracker on Saturday.”
Among the top schools vying for supremacy are Kingston College, Calabar and Jamaica College on the boys’ side, while Edwin Allen High, Hydel High, and Holmwood Technical lead the girls’ competition.
The opening event of the championships will feature the preliminary rounds of the high school boys’ 4×400 metres relay, a championship event.
Senior athletes are to contest the Men’s and Women’s 60m races, along with the Men’s 400m.
In the Men’s 400m, national record holder Rusheen McDonald of MVP Track and Field Club is expected to face competition from Roshawn Clarke, Malik James-King of Titans, and Demish Gaye.
The Women’s 60m should see Tia Clayton and her MVP teammates Jonielle Smith and Serena Cole go head-to-head with Elite Track Club’s Shashalee Forbes, Jodean Williams and Kemba Nelson.
Malik James-King (Photo: Collin Reid)
Jonielle Smith (Photo: AFP)
Tia Clayton (Photo: AFP)
